The maginot line was a vast fortification that spread along the frenchgerman border but became a military liability when the germans attacked france in the spring of 1940 using blitzkrieg a tactic that completely emasculated the maginot lines purpose. The maginot line named after the french minister of war andre maginot, is a line of concrete. Maginot line lnen svg battle of france wikipedia, the. France had taken shelter behind its maginot line and, together with its allies, was clearly superior to the german attacker. They invaded belgium on may 10, continued their march through belgium, crossed the somme river, and on may 12 struck at sedan at the northern end of the maginot line. Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free dictionary. During the first world war, the german army had built the hindenburg line, which is. They spread out along the borders, except side of spain where strengthened constructions are not with the day order.
Visite libre et gratuite unaccompnied visit free freie besichtigung. Maginot line article about maginot line by the free. Aug 22, 2017 the maginot line, the complex system of strongpoints constructed between the world wars by the french to protect against attack from germany, is one of the most famous, extensive and controversial defensive schemes in all military history. Includes pictures explains the origins of the maginot line, its construction, and the world war ii fighting around it includes online. The war in the west, 19391940 chapter 10 the cambridge. Download 51 maginot line stock photos for free or amazingly low rates. The epic 450mile french barrier that couldnt stop the nazis. Incredible images of the abandoned bunkers and fortresses. Maginot line uncyclopedia, the contentfree encyclopedia.
Mar 30, 2018 built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. Incredible images of the abandoned bunkers and fortresses of the maginot line. Maginot line, named after the french minister of war andre maginot. The maginot line, the complex system of strongpoints constructed between the world wars by the french to protect against attack from germany, is one of the most famous, extensive and controversial defensive schemes in all military history. Tour of the maginot line ouvrage schoenenbourg ww2 on. Choose from 6 different sets of maginot line flashcards on quizlet. Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defence against a german invasion of france. The maginot line was one of the most advanced networks of fortifications in history. What was it like as a french soldier to defend the maginot line when the germans invaded in 1940, and was the line really a strategic and tactical disaster a massive waste of resources. That creates employments in the economic crisis context that touches france since 1932. The ones that were installed, fulfilled an important role of clearing the craters around fortifications, created by german artillery, which were. Pdf the canal line 1940 download full pdf book download. While an understanding of the lines creation is vital to any study of world war i, world war ii, and the period in between, this knowledge is also helpful when interpreting a number of modern references. Maginot line maginot line this was a french line of.
Grade math worksheets multiplication free addition with regrouping word problems pdf. Open to the public since 1978, about 40,000 visitors come yearly to discover its settings. The conquest of france in 1940 took just fortysix days. Clayton donnells expert, finely detailed and graphic account of the role of the maginot line in the defence of france gives the reader an inside view of life in the bunkers, casemates and forts the sights, the. Now that im no longer a volunteer i only check this site for messages. The schoenenbourg fort is the largest fort of the maginot line that can be visited.
While an understanding of the line s creation is vital to any study of world war i, world war ii, and the period in between, this knowledge is also helpful when interpreting a number of modern references. It consisted of an intricate system of strong points, fortifications, and military facilities such as border. In 1940, france deployed about twice as many men, 36 divisions roughly one third of its force, for the defence of. The maginot line by greg moore built from 1930 to 1940 and at a cost of over 5 billion french francs, the maginot line was a fortified line in depth, usually 25 to 25 kilometers deep.
Julian jackson highlighted one of the lines roles was to facilitate this strategy by freeing manpower for. Learn maginot line with free interactive flashcards. Battles on the french frontier campaign series by marc romanych. He used crutches and walking sticks for the remainder of his life. Having come through the war virtually intact, it now offers a fine example of modern fortifications, as do the forts of guentrange, hackenberg and simserhof. Gene mentions of constructing maginot lines in the last. The remains is affected to the creation of new works called new fronts works. Aug 17, 2011 heading underground in france to explore the maginot line, wwii history.
The ones that were installed, fulfilled an important role of cle. You can read this ebook on any device that supports drm free epub or drm free pdf format. Maginot line, named after the french minister of war andre maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defenses, which france constructed along its borders with germany and italy, in light of its experience. In 1940 the fascist german forces reached the rear of the maginot line through the ardennes and after the surrender of france forced the garrison of the maginot line to give up. Maginot line french fortification, europe britannica. What the firepower doctrine and maginot line mentality really did to the french army was to petrify the tactical and. From may 10 through may 15, 1940, general heinz guderians xix. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. The french maginot line in use from 1935 to 1940 from world war ii has come to stand as one of the great symbols of shortsightedness, myopic architecture, stupidity, ostrichlike response to threat, and just general fail. The maginot line, named after the french minister of war andre maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications. Maginot line article about maginot line by the free dictionary. During their blitzkrieg invasion, the germans were able to identify these weak points and focus their attacks against them.
The maginot line was a series of fortifications built by the french government in the 1930s. Battles on the french frontier comments users havent yet still left the writeup on the overall game, or not make out the print however. Unfortunately, the line covered the frenchgerman frontier, but not the frenchbelgian. However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the strength of various sections varied widely. In 1940 the maginot line is administratively cut out in several very unequal sf sectors strengthened on the level of their power. Sep 27, 2016 maginot line lnen svg battle of france wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Maginot line stock photos download 51 royalty free photos. Clayton donnells expert, finely detailed and graphic account of. Find highquality maginot line stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images.
The french built the most advanced system of fortifications that the world. Battles on the french frontier thus far about the publication weve maginot line 1940. Bbc ww2 peoples war brits on the maginot line, france 1940. Maginot line synonyms, maginot line pronunciation, maginot line translation, english dictionary definition of maginot line. The maginot line consists of stratigically located and spaced independent defensive sites initially intended to overcome the lack available male soldiers to staff an army following the tremendous loss of french men from world war 1. Maginot line simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The french would just as soon forget the maginot line. Lwpmorganfall of france association of the united states army. The canal line 1940 available for download and read online in other formats. Some special units are created to form the crew of the maginot line works. Marc halter takes indy and all of us on a tour through the fort at schoenenbourg on the maginot line. The first attack by the germans against the maginot line itself occurred on may 16, 1940, and was directed against the isolated fortifications at. The battle for the maginot line 1940 casemate publishers. What was it like as a french soldier to defend the maginot line when the germans invaded in 1940, and was the line really a strategic and tactical disaster a massive.
Built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. The epic 450mile french barrier that couldnt stop the. Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free. The maginot line had a garrison of fortress troops about 200,000, who were reinforced and transformed into an army group at the beginning of world war ii 193945. It was constructed between 1930 and 1940 along the border between france and germany sort of. Media in category maginot line the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. Get an answer for gene mentions of constructing maginot lines in the last paragraph, what does this mean in a separate peace. The maginot line was named after andre maginot 18771932, a politician who served in world war i until wounded in november 1914. Links and sources all the contributors of the content bibliography. Indeed, the wall failed to live up to its promise during the fighting of 1940. Heading underground in france to explore the maginot line. Around 1600 mortars were delivered in 1940, but not all of them were installed. The verdun legend and the maginot line mentality created the impression that defensive measures could save france from a stronger foe. Includes pictures explains the origins of the maginot line, its construction, and the world war ii fighting around it includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading includes a table of contents we could hardly dream of building a kind of great wall of france, which would in any case be far too costly.
The latter are all original and the fort is on the complementary historical register in full. The thinking was that a use of various weaponry at stratic locations would offer a strong enough defence with minimal staffing to deter any aggressor long. For example, only around 1009 were installed in gfm cloches. Gaulle, a colonel during the battle for france who later became the head of the free. The maginot line was the most sophisticated french military undertaking in all of history.
Instead we have foreseen powerful but flexible means of organizing. A line of fortification constructed in the 1930s along frances border with germany. Today, the fortifications towards italy are commonly called alpin line. Heading underground in france to explore the maginot line, wwii history. Mar 18, 2017 includes pictures explains the origins of the maginot line, its construction, and the world war ii fighting around it includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading includes a table of contents we could hardly dream of building a kind of great wall of france, which would in any case be far too costly. Built in the aftermath of world war i, and stretching along the french eastern border from belgium to switzerland, it was designed to prevent german troops from ever setting foot on french soil again. The maginot line dominated french military thinking in the interwar years. The thinking was that a use of various weaponry at stratic locations would offer a strong enough defence. Purpose frances defeat by germany in 1940 is one of the most.
Battles on the french frontier campaign romanych, marc, rupp, martin, white, john on. In 1940, france deployed about twice as many men, 36 divisions roughly one third of its. The maginot line consisted of a variety of impressive components including a line scratched into dirt with a sharp stick, two bricks stacked on top of each other which was the first deployment of stacking technology in european warfare, as well as an expensive series of defensive structures, including hidden subterranean defensive platforms. Toward combined arms warfare army university press. The maginot line was made of a number of fortifications and bunkers, close to the french border to germany, belgium, luxembourg and italy. With five petit ouvrages the sector was poorly equipped with fortress artillery, limiting the ouvrages ability to provide mutual support. Germany, broke through the north end of the maginot line, and turned a decisive. Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defense against a german invasion of france. Maginot line this was a french line of protection developed along the nations border with germany amid the 1930s and named after minister of war andre maginot who while serving after world war i as frances priest of war and afterward as leader of the chamber of deputies army commission, finished arrangements for the protective line along the northeastern outskirts and acquired the capital. A disadvantage of the weapon was that when mounted in a cupola, the barrel was vulnerable since it stuck out quite some cms.